Preparedness Basics
Ever have that nagging feeling you aren’t prepared – but you don’t know what to do, where to start, or maybe even what to prepare for. Take a deep breath and think what caused you to start thinking about getting prepared. Worrying can wear you out and freeze you into inaction. The best remedy is to take action. Think through what the real risks are for you. Start with the most likely event first and prepare for that. In this blog we'll discuss the preparedness basics that everyone should cover.
Some of the most common “Everyday Emergencies”
Job loss and Reduced Income – Businesses restructure, industries change, you change – the average person will hold 11 different jobs during their lifetime. Many companies have reduced full time workers to part time in an effort to reduce costs.
Weather – Hurricanes, blizzards, bitter cold, tornadoes – all of these are likely to present physical risks to your person and your property, as well as the potential for power grid failure and difficult travel.
Minor injuries – From falling on the ice or water slicked surfaces to dog bites and bee stings, accidents happen. Every household should have a basic medical kit on hand for minor injuries.
Preparedness Basics – Covering the “Stuff”
To get started we suggest you start with the basics of life:
Food
Water
First Aid
Shelter
Safety and Hygiene
Prepare for 4 hours to 72 hours of living without electricity and simple injuries. As your skill level increases, you can prepare for more complicated scenarios and longer time periods.
1. Food – Have 72 hours of food on hand. This can be as simple as having a few extra boxes of breakfast bars, cans of soup and other dry foods. You can and should try buy the things you eat already. Otherwise, if you have the money, you can get a 4 Person 72-hour Food Supply. If you are short on funds, get your extra emergency stock when you have the money and there is a sale. Shop in bulk. If the power is out for an extended time, refrigerator and freezer items may spoil, so it's good to have emergency foods that are shelf stable. Also, you should have some way to heat/cook food that does not require the power grid. If food prices rise, which is likely, extra food storage will save you money down the road. Don't forget pets and livestock.
2. Water – Store a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day. 2 to 4 gallons per person per day or more would be even better, since the average U.S. family of four uses 100 gallons per day. For temporary emergency storage, consider something like a waterBOB or 65gal Emergency bathtub container that stores water in your bathtub and comes with a pump for easy access. Remember, too, that bad weather or other water delivery disruptions can also lead to water contamination, so you should have water filtration available, too.
3. First Aid – If anyone is on prescription medication, make sure you have adequate supplies on hand. Know your limits. If you are the only one there, what happens if you get injured? Plan ahead. The best way to “treat” injuries is to avoid them in the first place. You need a first aid kit that allows you to at least treat minor injuries. It is better to have more items for larger, more complex injuries, such as a sling for arm injuries. Take a first aid class and invest in a first aid guide.
4. Shelter and Hygiene – Our homes are our first places of shelter in most emergencies. Take steps to secure your home from likely extreme weather and power outages. Keep extra charcoal around to grill, or extra batteries for flashlights. Plan for hygiene and sanitation during a snowstorm, hurricane, earthquake or extended power outage.
Prepare to heat or cool your home without electrical power if possible. In hot weather, take advantage of shading and natural ventilation, opening the home during the cooler periods of day and closing the home up during the hottest part of the day. Old fashioned window awnings or overhangs can dramatically reduce heat load. Add insulation for hot or cold weather. Emergency Lighting – Have flashlights, lanterns and/or candles on hand. Always be extra careful with open flame, especially around children and pets. Don't forget matches or lighters. Emergency Communication – Have an emergency radio. Have a way to charge your cellphone when the power grid is down. At least one crank emergency radio can do double duty as cellphone chargers. You may also want to invest in a solar cellphone charger. Have extra batteries on hand, and make sure to keep them organized and rotated.
5. Safety Difficult economic times may result an increase in burglaries and home invasion. This could also mean financial safety. Save enough to protect yourself and your family during rough times. Live below your means. To protect yourself use locks. Consider motion activated security lighting and/or full security systems. Plan what you will do if you are burglarized, or your home is invaded. Consider well trained watch dogs, basic self-defense training and/or firearm training. Safety is as much about stuff as it is about planning and a proper mental state.